Crystal Palace 4 Hull 0: Sam Allardyce's Eagles secure Premier League survival as Tigers are relegated

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Tom Dutton14 May 2017

Crystal Palace clinched Premier League safety and relegated opponents Hull with a comfortable 4-0 win at Selhurst Park.

The Tigers went into the game knowing only victory would give them any realistic chance of beating the drop on the final day, but never recovered from Wilfried Zaha's early goal.

Christian Benteke doubled the hosts' lead before the interval, while late goals from Luka Milivojevic and Patrick van Aanholt secured a crucial three points to ensure the Eagles will play in England's top flight for a fifth straight season.

There was plenty of tension around south London at kick-off as Palace sought to avoid the defeat which would take their relegation fight to the final day, when they travel to Old Trafford.

And Andrea Ranocchia gifted the hosts the opener to ease the tension. After Andros Townsend's hopeful ball forward, the Italian completely miscued his clearance, and Zaha pounced to roll the loose ball beneath Eldin Jakupović.

The goal left Hull needing to score two goals away from home for the first time this season, and they offered little going forward before Benteke made their task harder.

There was a suggestion of handball from Zaha in the build-up to the goal, but Palace won a corner and Puncheon's delivery found Benteke at the near post. The Belgium international escaped his marker and powered the ball into the ground and beyond Jakupović.

Now needing three, Hull looked for a swift response and felt aggrieved they weren't given the chance to immediately reduce the deficit from the spot.

After Yohan Cabaye had chopped down Oumar Niasse on the edge of the box, Grosicki's free-kick was seemingly seen out by the arm of Jason Puncheon.

Second-half substitute Jarrod Bowen miscued Hull's best chance to halve the deficit when unmarked at the back post, but a resilient Palace were otherwise able to contain their opponents.

And when Craig Dawson tripped Jeffrey Schlupp late on, Luka Milivojevic scored from the spot before substitute Van Aanholt completed the rout from close range.

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